Spring-motor for talking-machines and the like.



W. D. LA ME. SPRING MOTOR FOR TALKING MACHINES AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20, I913.

Patented May I), 1916.

3 SHEETS -SHEET I.

Y E N m T T A WITNESSES w. D. LA RUE. SPRING MOTOR FOR TALKING MACHINES AND THE LIKE.

APFUCATION FILED MAR. 20, 1913- 1 12 576, Patented May 9, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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INVENTOR wirlvsssss MZ/L'Q/IW/ a ZaEL/e, BY M ATTORNEY W. D. LA RUE. SPRING MOTOR FOR TALKING MACHINES AND THE LIKE.

I APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20, I913. 1 182576. Patented May 9,191

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

WILLIAM ID. LA RUE, OF CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 VICTOR TALKING MACHINE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 9, 1916.

Application filed March 20, 1913. Serial No. 755,579.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM D. LA RUE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Camden, county of Camden, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring-Motors for 'lalking-hlachines and the like, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accon'ipanying drawings.

The principal objects of this invention are to provide a spring motor having a plurality of springs. each of which is incased in a separate spring barrel forming therewith a self-contained unit, said units being readily interchangeable: to provide a spring motor having a plurality of springs, which may be readily assembled or disassembled, and in which, in case of injury to or weakening of one or more springs, new springs, together with their associated parts maybe readily substituted; and to provide a motor in which. the various bearing surfaces are kept in constant alinement so that undue friction is minimized and the full power of the springs usefully exerted.

Further objects of this invention are to produce a motor of the type described, of simple and compact design having a minimum of parts, and which is noiseless in op eration, which may be constructed at a minimum cost, and which may be taken apart and re-assembled in case of necessity with out the employment of a skilled mechanic.

A. further ob ect 18 to prov de a meansfor lubricating the principal gearing of such a motor which will seldom require attention.

Other objects and features of'my invention will appear in the following specification, and the drawings forming it part of this application.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an inverted plan view of a motor con structed in accordance with the principles of this invention, showing a portion of a cabinet to which. it may be attached; Fig. 2

is a somewhat enlarged vertical longitudinal section thereof taken on the line 22 in Fig. 1. certain portions, however, being shown in elevation for the sake of clearness and other portions being omitted for the same purpose; Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 33 in Fig. 1; Figs. 4c and 5 are perspective views of certain details of the motor; and Fig. 6 is afragmentary elevation of a portion of one end of the motor, showing a portion of the windng mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, one embodiment of this invention consists in a frame 1, which isprovided with integral downwardly depending arms 2 and 3. This frame ma? be secured to the underside of a portion of a talking machine cabinet 5 by means of a plurality of screws 6 threaded'into suitable apertures 8 in the frame 1, or it may be secured to the cabinet, or other object, in any other suitable manner.

The downwardly extending supports 2 and 3 are-provided with preferably cylin drlcal apertures 12 and 13, the aperture 12 forming a bearing for the shaft 15 and the aperture 13 preferably forming a seat for the bushing 16. This bushing is preferably provided with a central cylindrical aperture 17 forming a bearing for the reduced portion 18 at one end of the shaft 15, and may furthermore be provided with an annular pe- I'lplllill. groove 20 for a purpose to be hereinafter described. One face of the bushing 16 may be provided with a hollow annular depression 22 surrounding the aperture 17, or the annular depression 22 may be omitted if desired. The shaft 15 is provided near the reduced portion 18 with a transverse pin 19, the ends of which project slightly beyond the periphery of the shaft for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The other end of the shaft 15 is journaled in the aperture 12 of the support 3, and extending through the said support, is preferably slightly reduced in diameter to form a shoulder 24;. Upon this reduced portion of the shaft 15 is axially mounted a ratchet wheel 26 which is held in position abutting against the shoulder 2% by the nut 27 threaded on to the reduced portion of the shaft as shown in Fig. 2. The ratchet wheel 26 may be secured upon the shaft15 in any desired manner which will prevent its rotation upon the shaft, but will permit of its being slid along the shaft and removed therefrom when the nut 27 is removed. :One way of accomplishing this result is to mill off the sides of the reduced portion of the shaft so as to form slightly flattened surfaces in diametrically opposite relation, and to form the central aperture in the ratchet wheel 26 with correspondingly flattened surfaces, in the manner shown in Fig. 6, or any other suitable arrangement for effecting this desired result t vided with a central may be adopted. The extreme outer end of the shaft is formed with screw threads 30, or other suitable means for the attachment of a removable winding crank, not

5 shown, and, if desired, the shaft 15 may be reduced in diameter at certain portions 31 of its length intermediate of its ends, as shown in Fig. 2, for a purpose to be hereinafter described' Pivoted to the support 3 by a suitable pivot 32 is a ratchet 33 which engages with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 26 in the ordinary well-known manner, to permit the said wheel, together with the shaft 15, to be rotated in one direction, but

15 to prevent their rotation in the other.

The motive power of the spring motor is furnished by the expansion of a plurality of .coiled springs 40. These springs of which there may be any number desired, are all wound in the same direction and are separately incased in cylindrical spring barrels etl, 42 and 13, conveniently cup-shaped and provided with a slightly annular off-set portion 44 around the periphery of its open as end. A circular cover plate 45 forms a cover for each spring barrel, and is of such a diameter as to snugly fit within the offset portion 44 where itis retained preferably bv friction alone. Each of the spring so barrels is preferably provided in the center of its closed end with a circular aperture in which is fixedly retained an annular clutch collar 50, bestshown in Fig. 4., which is provided with a central cylindrical aperture 51 I of a diameter adapted to form a good working lit upon the shaft 15, and with two or I more outwardly projecting dogs 53, ,for a purposeto be hereinafter. described. Upon the face opposite that from which the dogs A0153 project, the clutch collars 50'ar'e preferably provided with a somewhat reduced cylindrical off-set portion of approximately the thickness of the walls of the spring barrel and rigidly secured within the central aperture thereof. Each of the cover plates 45 is likewise provided with a similar central aperture in which is fixedly retained in a similar manner a collar 58 which is likewise provided with. a slightly off-set v cylindrical portion adapted to fit within the aperture, and with a central cylindrical aperture similar to the apertures 51 in the clutch collar 50 for a purpose to be hereinafter described. a

55 Each of the spring barrelsl, 42 and 13 inclosesa coiled spring 40,,as previously stated, the outer end, of which is attached thereto bymeans of a rivet 60, and the inn'er end of which is attached to a sleeve 61 by means of a rivet 62 in an aperture 63,

or any other desired. manner the ends of the spring may be employed instead of the rivets. The sleeves 61 which are all of identical construction, are procylindrical longitudiof fastening nal aperture forming a good working fit upon the shaft 15. One end of each of these sleeves, which are best shown in Fig. 5, is provided with a plurality of recesses 64 adapted to receive the clutch dogs 53 upon the plates 50. It will be understood that while but two of these clutch dogs and a corresponding number of recesses are shown upon each collar and sleeve in the drawings, that any desired number may beemployed. The. other end .of each of the sleeves is formed with a plane surface. If desired,

the sleeves mav be slightly reduced in external diameter at the end upon which the recesses 64 are located, as shown in Fig. 5, this reduced portion forming a snug working fit within the apertures already referred to in the collars 58.

It will thus be seen that when each of the spring barrels is assembled with the spring 40 within it and the cover plate 45 in place, that the sleeve 61 will lie centrally within the spring barrel, the end of the sleeve having the recess 64 projecting somewhat within the collar 58, and the other end of the sleeve being in contact with or extending to within a very short distance of the inner side of the collar 50, a very slight clearance space 67 being preferably left between it and the collar 50, this clearance being shown on an exaggerated scale in the drawings. It will be further understood, that each of the spring barrels, with its cover plate and their attached parts together with its corresponding spring, and its central sleeve, may thus be considered as in unitary relation, the whole being completely self-contained and forming a unit adapted to be inserted or withdrawn from the motor assuch when desired; Q

The'spring barrel 413, however, is formed preferably in a slightly different shape from the other spring barrels, it being preferably provided with a plurality of raised bosses 70, having suitable apertures for the accommodation of the rivets 71 by means of which a gear wheel 73 is fixedly attached to the spring barrel 13, being slightly 0aset from the same by the bosses '70. This gear wheel may be attached to the spring barrel in any other manner desired, however, and can, if it be considered advisable, be arranged to be readily removed therefrom, although in the drawings, it is shown as permanently attached. This gear wheel,

which is for the purpose of communicating the power developed by the springs to the gearing of the motor, preferably meshes with a worm 74 upon the main shaft 75 of the motor, said shaft being suitably journaled in the frame land carrying a gear 76, which in turn meshes with a worm 77. The upper j end of the main shaft 75 extends through a bearing 78- in the frame 1 ofthe miiitor and is continued upward as shown in .l ig. 52, passing through the cabinet for the purpose of carrying a turntable or other device, not shown. The shaft carrying the worm gear 77 is join-nailed in the frame 1 in journals T9, and is provided with a cen 'tril'ugal governor 80, carrying a longitudicollar 85 from. which the clutch dogs 53 Ell all

are omitted. In place these (logs, the col lar provided with a cylindrical extension 8&3 adapted to enter a shallow annulaure cess 852 in the pport 3, and to bear against the hottom of "inc said recess, a good bearing surface heiugr formed between the end of the cyliiulrical extension 556 and the bottom ol? the recess A drip pan 90 is preferably attached to the lower portion of the support 3 by means oi the screws 91, or in an other desired manner, and extends hex'ieath the several spring barrels of the motor. .l his pan may pieterahh be curved concentrically w th the spring barrels, and may he provided. w th and portions and 93, the whole forming a sort of trough-shaped device. That portion of the pan beneath the gear wheel 73 is preferably of a, slightl greater radius of curvature than the balance of the pan, so that a groove is formed beneath gear Wheel for the purpose of containing Vaseline or other lubricant into which the gear wheel 73 dips as it rotates. Both. the gear ".vheel T3 and-the worm 74., are thus kept constantly lubricated, it being only new "sar u to renew the supply of rasehne at inrrecuent intervals in order to insure this result.

l l'hen it llesirorl to assemble the motor. the main shaft anrl speeel controlling means hell in place upon the fran'1e, the various'spru each comprising its spring; barrel anrl cover with their attacheil parts. its sleeve and its spring, are placed in any desired order. excepting that the s iu'ingr unit having the gear wheel i'l'slioulcl he nearest the support 3, anrl are rotated until the clutch dogs 53 of the several units enter the correspcmdingr apertures 64 in the several sleeves, as shown in Fig. 2. The spring units, being hehl in this interlocked position, are then slipped between thedepending portions 2, and 3, of the frame I. and the shaft inserted through theapeu ture 13 in the support 2 and through the apertures in the several sleeves, its right hanrl end, considering; Fig. 3, finally pass- .iig; lough the aperture 152 inthe support El. In this position, the transverse pin 19 in the left hand end of the shaft will enter the recesses 64: in the end of thi sleeve with in the left hand spring unit, as shown in Fig. 2. The bushing 16 is then inserted in the aperture 13 and moved longitudinally along the reduced portion 18 of the shaft until it contacts with the shoulder formed by the reduced portion, in which position it is secured by means of the set screw 100, which is threaded into the support 2 mid enters the annular groove of the bushing.

lt'will thus he understood that beginning with the left hand spring unit, considering Fig. 2, each spring barrel is held in fixed interlocked relation with the sleeve contained in the next adjacent spring unit, and that the sleeve contained in the left hand spring unit is held in fixed relation with the shaft 15, by the protruding ends of the: pin 19 engaging within the recesses Glprovirlerl in the end of its sleeve. Furthermore, the spring units are restrained from substantial longitudinal movement along the shaft 15 by the transverse pin 19, and by the contact of the end of the cylindrical extension 86 of the collar with the bottom of the recess 8*, While the shaft 1? is also restrained 't'rom substantial longitudinal movement in one direction by the Contact of the bushing 16 with the shoulder formed on the shaft 15 by its reduced portion 18, and in the other direction by the contact of the transverse pin 19 with the sleeve contained in the left hand spring unit.

The shaft being thus fixed in position, the ratchet wheel 26 is slipped over the end thereof, and turned. so that the flattened surfaces of its central aperture register with the similar surfaces upon the shaft 15, and the nut 27 maythen be screwed into position, thus bindin the ratchet wheel firmly upon the shaft 15, The pen may then he attached by the screws 91 and the groove 95 filled with lubricant; By the attachment of a winding crank to the shal tl by means of the threads 30, or in any other suitable manner, the shaft may be rotated in one direction, rotation in the other (lirection'locingr prevent-ed by the engagement of the ratchet 33 with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 26 in the well-known manner, The rotation of the shaft will immediately cause the rotation of the sleeve within the left hand unit owing to the contact of the transverse pin 19 with the clutch recessesin said sleeve.

.irr'mesh with the worm movement of the barrel. However, when the course, it will be understood that during this speed controlling means 83 or other braking means employed are released and the motor permittgd to run, the expansion of the spring "withinjthe spring barrel 43 will cause the process. The drip pan 90 is first removed except when the motor said barrel to revolve together with the gear 73, communicating motion to the Worm 74, the rate of which motion is controlled by the governing mechanism in a well known manner. The spring barrel 42 will also thus begin to revolve, but at a slower rate than does the spring barrel 43, and consecutively the spring barrel 41 will revolve but at a still slower rate. The shaft 15 does not revolve is being wound, which operation may be carried on while the motor is running, if desired, but nevertheless, serves to keep the various moving parts in constant and perfect alinement, pre-- venting distortion and minimizing friction.

- The friction between the'revolving sleeves contained in the spring barrels 42 and 43 and the shaft 15 may be somewhat reduced by decreasing the diameter of the shaft through a considerable portion of the length of its contact with the said sleeves, as at 31, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, or, if desired, the shaft may be made of a constant diameter.

If it be desired to dismantle the motor, the same may bevery readily accomplished by a practical reversal of the assembling by withdrawing the screws 91, and the nut 27 having been removed, the ratchet wheel 26 may be readily slipped off the shaft. The

set screw 100 is next loosened and the bush- 1 ing 16 removed, after which the shaft 15 may be withdrawn, and all the spring units lifted from between the supports 2 and 3 and separated, leaving each unit with its associated parts entirely independent of the other units.

It will thus be seen that a motor of a construction similar to that described, may be very readily assembled o7;- disassembled and that such labor does not require the services of a skilled mechafnic. Fin-thenmore, incase of in ury to any oneof the spring units, the same maybe entirely removed from the motor and a new unit insorted without the necessity of sending the whole motor away for repairs. and since the springs are contained within dust proofbarrels lubricant mav be introduced between the coils of the springs at the factory, which will serve to lubricate them for a long period of time, while the principal gearing of the motor may be readily lubricated by the peri odical introduction of vasoline within the groove 95. 7

Of course it will be understood, that while i,

preventing the interlocking means connecting the '1ng frames and shafts designed for use with two, three, four or more units as desired.

A further advantage of a motor constructed in accordance with this invention consists in the use of a unitary frame therein, which frame can be readily formed as an integral whole, dispensing with the necessity, as in motors previously constructed, of attaching one or more of the portions thereof by mechanical means, which portions frequently haveto be removed in' assembling or disassembling the motor. The numerous advantages arising from the ability to make use of such a unitary frame construction will be at once apparent.

Furthermore, I do not desire to limit my invention to the precise details of construction and arrangement which have been herein set forth, as it isobvious that various modifications in the structure and arrangement of the various parts may be made therein without departing from the essential features and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect'by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a spring motor, the combination of a winding shaft, separate spring units movably mounted on theshaft, clutches connecting the adjacent spring units and movable into and out ofengagement in the direction of said shaft, means for holding said units against movement longitudinally of the shaft and means for transmitting the motion of said units to a main shaft.

In a spring motor, the combination of a series ofseparate spring units, separable adjacent spring units and movable into and out of engagement by the independent movement of contradistinction to about, the axis of said series of units, and a central winding shaft removably inserted through said series of units and holding the same against movement relative to said axis.

3. In a spring motor, the combination of a. shaft, separate sleeves. mounted on the shaft, a power spring connected to each of the separate sleeves, spring barrels connected to each of the respective springs, and clutches forming interlocking connections between the sleeve of each spring and the barrel of the next adjacent spring.-

4. Ina spring motor, the combination ofa shaft, separate spring units movably mounted on the shaft, clutches forming interlockone of said adjacent units relative to, in

ing Connections between adjacent spring units, and means for holding the shaft in operative position.

In a spring motor, the combination of a shaft, separate spring barrels rotatably mounted on the shaft, springs within the spring barrels, a sleeve within one of said barrels and independently rotatable on the shaft and connected to the corresponding spring, and interlocking clutch means provided respectively on one end of said sleeve and on the face of the adjacent spring barrel.

6. A power unit for spring motors, including a spring barrel open at one end and closed at the other end, a cover plate for the open end of the barrel, said cover plate and the closed end of the barrel being formed with substantially central alining apertures, a sleeve Within the barrel independently rotatable thereof and adapted to register and communicate with said apertures, a power spring connecting the sleeve and the barrel, the sleeve being ournaled at one end in one of said apertures, and .a clutch member provided at said end of the sleeve.

7. A power unit for spring motors, including a spring barrel open at one end and closed at the other end, a cover plate for the open end of the barrel, said cover plate and the closed end of the barrel being formed with substantially central alining apertures, a sleeve within the barrel rotatable independently thereof and adapted to register and communicate with said apertures, a power spring connecting the sleeve and the barrel, the sleeve being journaled at one end in one of said apertures, a clutch member provided at said end of the sleeve, and a clutch member providedadjacent the other aperture. I

8. A power u 't for spring motors including a s ring arrel open at one end and closed at tie other end, and formed in its E to closed end with a substantially central aperture and with a clutch member located ad; jacent said aperture, a cover plate for the open end of the barrel, having a substantially central bearing opening alining with said aperture, a sleeve within said barrel rotatable independently thereof and adapted to register with said aperture, the sleeve being provided at one end with a clutch member and being journaled at said end within the bearing opening and a power spring connecting the sleeve and the barrel.

9. In a spring motor, the combination of a plurality of separate spring units, each provided with a central independently rotatable sleeve. a shaft reinovably inserted through all of said sleeves, clutch members for connecting the sleeve of a terminal unit to the shaft, and means including clutch members on remaining sleeves, for coupling adjacent spring units.

10. A spring motor, including separate groove extending beneath said units, said spring units, each provided with an inde pendently rotatable central sleeve, a shaft positioned through all of said sleeves, and means including clutch members on said sleeves, for coupling adjacent spring units.

dependently thereof, a central sha'l't through thesleeves, means for connecting the sleeve of a terminal unit to said shaft, the shaft being removable from the remaining sleeves, and means including clutch members on the remaining sleeves, for coupling adjacent spring units.

12. The combination in a multiple spring motor having a series of spring units, of a gear mounted on one of said units and a pan provided with a lubricant retaining gear being adapted to revolve partially With in said groove.

13. The combination in a multiple spring motor having a series of spring units, of a gear mounted upon one of the terminal units of said series and a pan provided with a transversely extending lubricant retaining groove, said gear being adapted to revolve partially within said groove.

14. In a spring motor, the combination of a plurality of separate spring units, clutches forming interlocking connections between adjacent spring units, a central shaft removably inserted through all of said spring units, a separable interlocking connection between said shaft and a terminal spring unit, and means for holding said shaft from longitudinal movement.

15. In a spring'motor, the combination of a motor frame including a base and supporting arms projecting therefrom, and provided with alining bearings, a plurality of spring units having freely separable connections interposed between said arms, and a shaft passing through said units and sup ported in said bearings and freely removable axially from said parts. i

16. In a spring motor, the combination of a plurality of spring units, freely separable connections therebetween, a central shaft removably inserted through all of said units, a separable interlocking connection between said shaft and a terminal spring unit, and means for retaining said shaft against Withdrawal from operative position.

17. In a spring motor, the combination of a motor frame includinga base and sup porting arms projecting therefrom, said arms being provided with alining bearings, a plurality of separate spring units interposed between saidarms, separable operative connections between adjacent spring units, a. central shaft passing through all of said units and supported in saidbearings and removable axially from position.

7 18. In a spring motor, the combination of a motor frame including a base and supporting arms projecting therefrom and integral therewith, said arms being provided With alining bearings, a plurality of spring units having freely separable connections interposed bet veen-said arms, and a shaft passing through said units and supported in said bearings and freelyreinov able axially'from said parts.

19. In a spring motor, the combination of a shaft, separate spring units movably mounted on the shaft, freely separable inrisaaae terlocking connections between adjacent spring units, and means for holding said 15 spring units in operative position on the shaft with said connections in interlocking engagement. I

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 19th da f lu m 1913. v

WILLIAM 1). LA RUE. 

